I have never been more bored in my entire life. Well, I probably have, but this is incredibly boring too.
Mrs. Yates continues to drone on about some poem about snow or something, but I there are far more important things if you ask me. Like grass growing. All I can think about is what today is: the last day of school. I can't wait to go swimming at the beach, play video games all day, and sleep in for hours. But until then, I'm stuck listening to a literary analysis about a poem. I'm pretty sure he just meant the curtains were blue, and they didn't "represent" anything.
"I'm guessing you're bored, huh?" Grant whispers, leaning over. "You should just listen for once. It's actually pretty good."
"It snows all the time in Winter," I whisper back. "I don't need to hear a poem about it. I just want to go enjoy my Summer Vacation."
He sighs quietly. I guess he has heard this from me hundreds of times. But it's still relevent "Just a few more hours today, and then we're free."
"It's still a few hours..."
"Is there someone talking back there?" Mrs. Yates asks. We both straighten out in our seats, staring forward. Fortunately, she doesn't push it. And I can go back to my favorite activity during school: daydreaming about break.
Once Grant and I are on the bus back home, there are no words to describe how ecstatic I am. I can't wait to get home and play some video games! Then I'll binge watch some TV and eat nothing but junk food. But Grant... he seems really out of it. All he's doing is glaring out the window intently, and when he's not, he's glancing at his phone for texts or something.
I step in front of him and wave my hand in front of his face."Hey, snap out of it!" This seems to work a little, but not really. He just focuses his eyes on me for a second before looking back at his phone. What's his deal? "Okay, what's up? Miss school already? You're such a nerd."
"Yeah, uh, that must be it," he says, obviously not paying much attention. Rude. Okay, that's it. Time to pull out the big guns.
The next time Grant looks out the window, I reach out and snatch his phone from him. That brings him back to reality. Victory! "Hey, give it back!"
I hold the phone away from him, behind my back. Let's just say I can't exactly hold it above my head to keep it out of reach. He'd get it in an instant that way. But even his arms aren't long enough to get it when I hold it like this. I'm just glad there's nearly no one on the bus today.
"No way! Not until you tell me what's going on!"
"It's a secret, and really important! Now hand it over." There's obvious fury in his voice, but I'm not yielding. Even he doesn't act this weird all the time.
"Or you know, I could just read those texts you've been getting." His eyes go wide, and he resumes his struggle with more intensity. That doesn't even come close to stopping me. I hold the phone just close enough to read, and begin.
"3:21, from Charlotte. Wow, you actually text your sister? Lame. 'They're down by the orphanage. Get there as fast as possible?" Well, first, who texts with that brand of proper grammar? Second of all...
"What's down by the orphanage?" Now it's my turn to look pissed. Grant finally stops trying to grab his phone back, simply looking defeated.
"Okay, I'll explain. But later." I look out the window. It's already my stop; we skipped his completely. Before I can even ask another question, Grant's running off the bus. I stand there in shock for so long, I almost forget to get off.
I follow my friend to the corner right before the Coastline Street. He peers around, obviously tense. "Okay if you don't give me some answers soon, I swear, I'll-"
"Shut up already!" Grant hisses back. He looks again, and obviously, he sees something. Something that makes him jump. But before I can see too, he mutters something under his breath. I suddenly feel very off-balance. I'm so tired... It's like I forgot to sleep for days. My eyelids feel like they're attached to bricks. I can't help but fall to my knees.
The last thing I see before my eyes close for good is a flash of bright light, and a sound like unsheathing a sword.
"...think he's waking up!" What the heck? I open my eyes, but a bright light nearly blinds me. Eventually, I'm able to adjust and sit up, but my head hurts like hell. I'm in my bed, apparently, and someone is standing right by it. Large mop of curly brown hair? Check. Huge round glasses? double-check.
"Anna, what are you doing in here?" She jumps in surprise. What? was she not expecting me to wake up that quickly or something? I was just asleep.
"Wow, you really do recover fast!" She smiles broadly, but I can see a little relief in her face as well. What the heck? "I mean, you've been out practically all day. I thought you'd never get up."
"All day?" I shout. "What do you mean I've been 'out all day?" How long was I asleep? I thought I just took a nap after school or something, not slept an entire day!
"Well, I, uh..." She was obviously flustered, which I guess is my fault. But I still want answers.
"You were unconscious for five hours," someone suddenly says in a deadpan tone. I whip my head toward the voice, surprised that someone else is there. And I have to say, I'm surprised to see Josh here in general. He's just sitting on his bed, reading a book. How come I didn't notice him before? Well, I guess he is kinda quiet, and his dark hair and clothing choices really help him blend in, even for a 6'4 16-year-old. "Were you doing parkour again or something? We found you in an alley."
My face burns at the mention of it. I thought he swore to never talk about that incident again! "I-I was not trying that again! Besides, I think I'd remember that!"
He raises an eyebrow, but doesn't look away from his book. "Oh yeah? Then what were you up to?"
That makes me go silent. "I have no idea. I was just out with Grant, and then..." I rack my brain for an answer, but nothing comes to mind. The last thing I remember is trying to see what Grant was looking at. Speaking of which, where was he?
"Are you sure he didn't knock you out?" Anna says with a giggle. "He seems strong enough to take you out. But then again, so are squirrels."
Before I can say anything, Josh interrupts. Good thing too. I had some choice words. "Anna, how about you go downstairs to finish up the movie? I've got this." She shoots him a glare, but stands up straight and leaves the room. Good riddance.
Wait, did he say movie?
"Before you try to leave, you need to stay in bed. Moving around would probably" too late. I've already stood up. And immediately, a weird feeling of vertigo blasts over me, nearly making me fall to the ground. At least I'm able to fall back onto my bed. "cause extreme vertigo." Joh says with a sigh. "You hit your head pretty hard; I wouldn't be surprised if you have a concussion."
I cross my arms and lay down in the bed. What am I supposed to do now? The first night of summer ruined because... something happened! And I'm definitely going to find out what tomorrow.
"By the way, there's supposed to be a storm tomorrow afternoon." Josh chimes in. "Or is it night?" Okay then, early tomorrow!